Scoop type container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material which is fabricated in collapsed condition and which is characterized by front and back wall forming panels hingedly joined at the bottom and having vertical side wall panels which are connected to portions of the corresponding side edges of the front and back wall panels on hinge lines each having angularly related portions which converge inwardly in the plane of the front and back wall panels and which side wall panels are collapsible on a central vertical hinge line into the plane of the collapsible front and back wall panels, the collapsed container being adapted to be opened up for use by inward pressure on the center hinge portions of the side wall panels sufficient to move the side wall panels toward each other to a fully open and locked position, the side wall panels being freed at bottom edge portions from the front and back wall panels, thereby enabling the bottom portions of the side wall panels to form leg-like supports and rendering the container self supporting when opened up and placed in an upright position.

United States Patent [1 1 Steel SCOOP TYPE CONTAINER Thomas C. Steel,Glen Ellyn, 111.

[73] Assignee: Federal Paper Board Company, Inc.,

Montvale, NJ.

22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1974 21 App]. No.: 440,307

[75] lnventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 229/41 B; 229/15 B; 229/8; 229/16 D; 229/41 R [51] Int. ClB68d 5/36 [58] Field of Search.... 229/41 B, 41 R, 41 C, 41 D, 229/53,57, 60,61,16 R, 16 D, 8, 21,15 B

Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Bruce l-l. BernsteinAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Guy A. Greenawalt Apr. 15, 1975 [5 7] ABSTRACTA collapsible container formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheetmaterial which is fabricated in collapsed condition and which ischaracterized by front and back wall forming panels hingedly joined atthe bottom and having vertical side wall panels which are connected toportions of the corresponding side edges of the front and back wallpanels on hinge lines each having angularly related portions whichconverge inwardly in the plane of the front and back wall panels andwhich side wall panels are collapsible on a central vertical hinge lineinto the plane of the collapsible front and back wall panels, thecollapsed container being adapted to be opened up for use by inwardpressure on the center hinge portions of the side wall panels sufficientto move the side wall panels toward each other to a fully open andlocked position, the side wall panels being freed at bottom edgeportions from the front and back wall panels, thereby enabling thebottom portions of the side wall panels to form leg-like supports andrendering the container self supporting when opened up and placed in anupright position.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATEi-HEBAPR 1 51975 SHEET 1 {If 2 scoopTYPE CONTAINER This invention relates to containers fabricatedofpaperboard or similar'foldable sheet material and is more particularlyconcerned with improvements in containers which are especially usefulfor handling products in food service establishments such asrestaurants, roadside stands, or the like.

In serving some of the products which are offered in fast food serviceestablishments, for example, french fried potatoes, it has been thepractice to use open top containers, generally in the form of collapsedpaper bags, for measuring and serving individual helpings of theproduct. These have been a flexible wall type which generally do nothold a definite quantity of the french fries or other roduct when openedup. Also, they are generally not flat bottomed so as to be set in anupright position when filled with the product. In addition, the paperbag containers may not open easily and may be torn in handling with thespeed demanded by quick service operations. Some containers for thispurpose have been developed which are manufactured of paperboard orother less flexible material so as to provide greater rigidity thanpaper and which may be adapted to remain upright when opened, filledwith a product and set upright on a table or counter. However, thepaperboard containers thus far designed are more expensive and generallyrequire substantial manipulation to open up without providing for anymore accurate or uniform measuring of the product than the papercontainers. It is an object of the present invention to provide animproved container for this and other purposes which may be producedeconomically in collapsed or flattened condition, which is more easilyopened for use and which has other advantages over containers of thistype heretofore provided.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a container whichis especially suitable for use in connection with the serving of foodproducts, particularly, french fries, or the like, in fast servicerestaurants, which may be supplied in collapsed condition, which isopenable to a locked position with provision for standing upright on atable. counter or similar support and which is adapted to hold apredetermined quantity of the product so as to enable it to be employedas a satis' factory measuring scoop as well as a container from which anindividual serving of the product may be consumed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible containerwhich may be formed from a cut and scored blank of paperboard or similarfoldable sheet material which blank comprises a minimum of paperboardfor the container capacity desired and which may be readily cut. scoredand assembled economically on presently available carton formingmachinery with minimum modification.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible container ofpaperboard or similar foldable sheet material having a sufficient degreeof rigidity and a construction whereby it may be opened into a lockedposition with an open top and having a form enabling it to be used as ascoop and for measuring substantially uniform quantities of a product,for example, french fries or the like, in a fast food servingestablishment.

A still further objectof the invention is to provide a container whichmay be fabricated of foldable paperboard, or the like, in collapsed orflattened condition and on a well known type of carton formingmachinery, which container comprises front and back wall forming panelsconnected on one or more transverse hinge lines at the bottom so as toenable the panels to collapse on each other into a common plane andhaving upper portions of corresponding side edges of the front and backwall forming panels connected by side wall .forming panels on hingelines which have upper and lower portions in angular relation andconverging inwardly in the plane of the front and back wall panels, saidside wall panels each being divided by vertical hinge lines which enablethese panels to collapse outwardly into flattened condition, with thelower portions of the side wall panels being out free of the front andback wall panels so that when opened up the container may be placed inan upright position and supported on the bottom edges of the side wallpanels.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will beunderstood from a consideration of the container and the method offorming the same which is shown by way of illustration in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container which embodies theprinciples of the invention, the container being shown in unfilledupright position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, to a somewhat larger scale, of the containerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section on a vertical plane which is taken on the line3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the container of FIG. 1 in collapsed orflattened condition;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a cut and scored paperboard blank employed infabricating the container;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the container as ameasuring scoop for serving a food product; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a cut and scored blank suitablefor fabricating a modified form of the container.

The container 10 which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 will be bestunderstood by referring first to the blank 12 which is shown in FIG. 6and which is cut, scored and supplied with adhesive preparatory toforming the container 10 in collapsed or flattened condition, asillustrated in FIG. 5.

The cut and scored blank 12 is preferably formed from a sheet or web ofbendable or foldable paperboard of suitable gauge or weight for theparticular use for which the container is desired. As shown, the blanks12 may be cut from a continuous web with the ends in the longitudinaldirection cut so as to nest with the trailing and leading ends ofpreceding and succeeding blanks of the same character. The blank 12 isof generally rectangular shape and is cut and scored so that it issymmetrical about a longitudinal center line aa with the portion on eachside of the line a-a being a mirror image of the portion on the otherside. The blank 12 is divided longitudinally by transverse score line 14into two panel forming sections 16 and 18, each of which is subdivided,as hereinafter described.

The blank section 16 is subdivided into a wall panel 20 which is adaptedto form the back wall of the container, when set up for use, and twolaterally extending side wall forming panels 22 and 24 which are mirrorimages of each other, by laterally spaced'pairs of score lines 26, 28and 30, 32 which extend longitudinally of the blank. The score lines ofeach pair thereof extend in converging relation inwardly of the blankand to a meeting point intermediate the longitudinal ends of the blanksection 16, the latter being defined by the transverse score line 14 andthe transverse cutting line 34. The major center portion 36 of the endedge of the blank which is formed by cutting on the line 34 is arcuateor bowed in the outward longitudinal direction with the ends meeting theinner ends of relatively short, laterally extending, outwardly slantingedge portions 38 and 40 which are in outwardly diverging relation andmerge at their outer ends into the outwardly slanted end edges 42 and 44of the side wall forming panels 22 and 24 which are also in outwardlydiverging relation. The panels 22 and 24 are cut at the opposite ends ontransverse lines so as to define bottom edges 46, 48 which are spaced atthe ends adjoining the back wall forming panel 20 a short distance fromthe plane of the transverse score line 14. The side wall forming panels22 and 24 have end portions adjacent the end edges 46, 48 which arefreed from the back wall forming panel 20 by the cutting lines 50, 52which coincide with end portions of the score lines 28 and 32. The sidewall forming panels 22, 24 are cut to provide outer edges withlongitudinally extending, angularly related portions 54, 56 and 58, 60.Each pair of said edge portions extend in outwardly converging relationto a center meeting point opposite the meeting point of the inner scorelines 26, 28 and 30, 32 which define the hinge connection of the sidewall forming panels with the back wall forming panel 20. The side wallforming panels 22 and 24 are each divided into two equal panel portionsby a center score line 62, 64 enabling these panels to fold upthemselves about the score lines 62, 64.

The blank section 18 is divided into a wall panel 66 which is adapted toform the front wall of the container, when set up for use, and twolaterally extending panels forming glue flaps or connecting panels 68,70 which are adapted to form a connecting joint with the free edges ormargins of the side wall forming panels 22 and 24. The glue flaps orside wall connecting panels 68, 70 are separated from the front wallforming panel 66 on longitudinally extending pairs of score lines whichare of the same character as the edge defining score lines 26, 28 and30, 32 of the back wall forming panel 20and which are identified bycorresponding numerals primed. The panels 68, 70 in the form shown arecut so as to have the shape of the outside halves of the side wallforming panels 22, 24 with slightly less width. The end portions of theglue flaps 68, 70 are freed from the front wall forming panel 66 on thecutting lines 50', 52' which coincide with end portions of the scorelines 28', 32'. The free end of the blank section 18 is cut on atransverse line 34 of the same configuration as the transverse cuttingline 34 at the other end of the blank 12 and provides an arcuate edgeportion 36 which bows inwardly of the panel 66 and which has its endsterminating at edge forming portions 38', 40 which are parallel with theedge forming cutting line portions 38, 40 while the end edge portions42, 44' on the glue flap panels 68, 70 are cut to coincide with the endedge portions 42, 40 of the side wall forming panels 22, 24.

The cut and scored blank 12 is supplied with an adhesive on the bottomside of the flaps 68 and 70, as viewed in FIG. 6, on the top side of theoutermost halves of the side wall forming panels 22 and 24, after whichthe blank is folded on the transverse score line 14 to bring the panel66 onto the panel 20 and the outermost halves of the panels 22 and 24are folded inwardly on the score lines 62 and 64 so that the outermosthalves of these panels overlie the connecting flaps 68 and 70 and areadhesively secured thereto. The application of the adhesive and thefolding operations may be accomplished on conventional carton formingmachinery.

In using the container 10, it may be fully opened by grasping betweenthe thumb and forefinger of one hand with sufficient pressure to movethe side wall panels to the locked position which is shown in FIGS. 1and 7. As illustrated in FIG. 7 a collapsed or flattened container, witha single motion of one hand, may be picked up, opened and used to scoopup a quantity of french fries, or any other product, after which thecontainer may be set in upright position, as shown in FIG. 1, with theproduct readily available for removal. In the opened position thecontainer provides a measuring device for serving a predeterminedquantity of a product, all the panels being locked in position andhaving substantial rigidity due to the inwardly bowed hinge connectionsbetween the side wall panels and the front and back wall panels whichresults in outward bowing of the front and back wall panels andincreases the rigidity of the latter thereby fixing to a substantialdegree the capacity of the opened container.

A modified form of the container may be fabricated from the blank 112, acenter portion of which is shown in FIG. 8, the remaining portions ofthe blank being cut and scored in the same manner as the blank 12 inFIG. 6, corresponding parts of which are represented by the samenumerals plus 100. The center transverse score line 114 corresponds tothe score line 14 in the blank 12. The blank 112 is provided withparallel transverse score lines 174 and 184 which are spaced equally onopposite sides of the line 114 in the direction longitudinally of theblank. The bottom wall forming panel 172 thus formed between the scorelines 174 and 184 is cut at the ends on lines and 152 to free it fromthe side wall forming panel members 122, 124 and 168, so as to enablethe panel 172 to open to a generally planar position when the resultingcontainer is opened up in the same manner as the container 10 which isformed from the blank 12. The blank 112 is supplied with adhesive andfolded in the same manner as the blank 12 in fabricating the containerin collapsed condition, the initial fold being on the transverse fold orhinge line 114. The collapsed container is adapted to be opened and usedin the same manner as the container 10 and affords the same advantageswith the addition of a relatively flat bottom of substantial width whichmay facilitate complete removal of the contents.

I claim:

1. A collapsible container formed from a paperboard blank which is cutand scored to provide, when opened up, front and back wall formingpanels and side wall forming panels, said front and back wall panelshaving side edge portions connected to said side wall forming panels onhinge lines having top and bottom sections converging inwardly so thatsaid side wall panels are bowed inwardly into a locked position, saidfront and back wall panels having bottom portions curved inwardly to ahinge connection which extends between the side wall panels, therebyforming the bottom wall of the container, said front and back wallbottom panel portions having side edge portions cut free of the bottomportions of the front and back edges of said side wall forming panels,said side wall panels having vertically extending hinge forming centerscore lines which are in the plane of the front and back wall bottomhinge connection so as to enable the side wall panels to fold outwardlyupon themselves and permit collapse of the front and back wall panelsupon each other.

2. A collapsible container as set forth in claim '1 wherein said frontand back wall forming panels have hinge forming parallel transversescore lines spaced on opposite sides of the hinge connection betweensaid wall forming panels which define a bottom wall when the containeris in opened up condition.

3. A collapsible container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sidewall forming panels have bottom marginal portions which extend below thehinge connection between the front and back wall forming panels and formleg portions on which the container is adapted to rest when in uprightopen position on a supporting surface.

4. A collapsible container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said backwall forming panel has an extended portion at the top of the containerand the front wall has a portion of the topmost margin cut away.

5. A collapsible container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top andbottom sections of said hinge lines at the connection of the side wallforming panels with the front and back wall forming panels are onstraight lines converging to a point intermediate the top and bottom ofsaid front and back wall forming panels.

6. A container formed from a blank of paperboard or similar bendablesheet material which comprises, when in an upright position, a back wallforming panel and a front wall forming panel with bottom marginalportions thereof connected on a transverse hinge line, said front andback wall forming panels having corresponding side edges connected inspaced relation by side wall forming panels, the connections betweensaid front and back wall panels and said side wall panels being on lineswhich are generally arcuate so that said side wall forming panels areinwardly bowed, said side wall forming panels having bottom marginalportions which are free of the bottom edges of the front and back wallforming panels, and which extend at least to the bottom hinge connectionbetween said front and back wall forming panels, with bottom edgesconstituting means for supporting the container in upright position.

7. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein said front and back wallforming panels have parallel, transverse scores at the bottom which arespaced on opposite sides of said transverse hinge line so as to define agenerally rectangular bottom wall forming panel.

8. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein said front and back wallforming panels have top edges which are arcuate in opposite directionsso as to form an extension on the one and a cut away recess in theopposite one.

9. A container as set forth in claim 6 wherein said side wall formingpanels have bottom marginal portions depending below said bottom hingeconnection between said front and back wall forming panels and whichterminate in substantially straight line edges.

10. A blank for use in fabricating a collapsible container whichcomprises an elongate, generally rectangular sheet of paperboard orsimilar bendable sheet material, which blank is divided longitudinallyby a transverse score line into two container wall panel formingsections, each of said blank sections being scored on longitudinallyextending, transversely spaced lines to define the side edges ofcontainer front and back wall forming panels which extend in oppositedirections from said transverse score line, and each of saidtransversely spaced score lines being divided into two substantiallyequal portions which converge inwardly to a substantially centralmeeting point, each of said blank sections having laterally extendingpanel portions cut in the blank side margins which define container sidewall forming panel members with the longitudinal edges thereofcoinciding with said inwardly converging portions of said longitudinallyextending, transversely spaced score lines and said side wall formingpanel members being cut free of the adjoining front and back wallforming panel members on lines extending a short distance from saidtransverse score line and coinciding with portions of saidlongitudinally extending score lines.

11. A blank for fabricating a collapsible container as set forth inclaim 10 wherein said container front and back wall forming panels arescored on transverse lines which are parallel with and equally spaced ashort distance from said transverse score line, said score linesdefining a container bottom wall forming panel with its opposite endscut free of said side wall forming panels. l

1. A collapsible container formed from a paperboard blank which is cutand scored to provide, when opened up, front and back wall formingpanels and side wall forming panels, said front and back wall panelshaving side edge portions connected to said side wall forming panels onhinge lines having top and bottom sections converging inwardly so thatsaid side wall panels are bowed inwardly into a locked position, saidfront and back wall panels having bottom portions curved inwardly to ahinge connection which extends between the side wall panels, therebyforming the bottom wall of the container, said front and back wallbottom panel portions having side edge portions cut free of the bottomportions of the front and back edges of said side wall forming panels,said side wall panels having vertically extending hinge forming centerscore lines which are in the plane of the front and back wall bottomhinge connection so as to enable the side wall panels to foLd outwardlyupon themselves and permit collapse of the front and back wall panelsupon each other.
 2. A collapsible container as set forth in claim 1wherein said front and back wall forming panels have hinge formingparallel transverse score lines spaced on opposite sides of the hingeconnection between said wall forming panels which define a bottom wallwhen the container is in opened up condition.
 3. A collapsible containeras set forth in claim 1 wherein said side wall forming panels havebottom marginal portions which extend below the hinge connection betweenthe front and back wall forming panels and form leg portions on whichthe container is adapted to rest when in upright open position on asupporting surface.
 4. A collapsible container as set forth in claim 1wherein said back wall forming panel has an extended portion at the topof the container and the front wall has a portion of the topmost margincut away.
 5. A collapsible container as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid top and bottom sections of said hinge lines at the connection ofthe side wall forming panels with the front and back wall forming panelsare on straight lines converging to a point intermediate the top andbottom of said front and back wall forming panels.
 6. A container formedfrom a blank of paperboard or similar bendable sheet material whichcomprises, when in an upright position, a back wall forming panel and afront wall forming panel with bottom marginal portions thereof connectedon a transverse hinge line, said front and back wall forming panelshaving corresponding side edges connected in spaced relation by sidewall forming panels, the connections between said front and back wallpanels and said side wall panels being on lines which are generallyarcuate so that said side wall forming panels are inwardly bowed, saidside wall forming panels having bottom marginal portions which are freeof the bottom edges of the front and back wall forming panels, and whichextend at least to the bottom hinge connection between said front andback wall forming panels, with bottom edges constituting means forsupporting the container in upright position.
 7. A container as setforth in claim 6 wherein said front and back wall forming panels haveparallel, transverse scores at the bottom which are spaced on oppositesides of said transverse hinge line so as to define a generallyrectangular bottom wall forming panel.
 8. A container as set forth inclaim 6 wherein said front and back wall forming panels have top edgeswhich are arcuate in opposite directions so as to form an extension onthe one and a cut away recess in the opposite one.
 9. A container as setforth in claim 6 wherein said side wall forming panels have bottommarginal portions depending below said bottom hinge connection betweensaid front and back wall forming panels and which terminate insubstantially straight line edges.
 10. A blank for use in fabricating acollapsible container which comprises an elongate, generally rectangularsheet of paperboard or similar bendable sheet material, which blank isdivided longitudinally by a transverse score line into two containerwall panel forming sections, each of said blank sections being scored onlongitudinally extending, transversely spaced lines to define the sideedges of container front and back wall forming panels which extend inopposite directions from said transverse score line, and each of saidtransversely spaced score lines being divided into two substantiallyequal portions which converge inwardly to a substantially centralmeeting point, each of said blank sections having laterally extendingpanel portions cut in the blank side margins which define container sidewall forming panel members with the longitudinal edges thereofcoinciding with said inwardly converging portions of said longitudinallyextending, transversely spaced score lines and said side wall formingpanel members being cut free of the adjoining front and back wallforming panel memBers on lines extending a short distance from saidtransverse score line and coinciding with portions of saidlongitudinally extending score lines.
 11. A blank for fabricating acollapsible container as set forth in claim 10 wherein said containerfront and back wall forming panels are scored on transverse lines whichare parallel with and equally spaced a short distance from saidtransverse score line, said score lines defining a container bottom wallforming panel with its opposite ends cut free of said side wall formingpanels.